Lance Corporal Jason Marks Memorial Service

Ms ALISON MEGARRITY (Menai) [1.45 p.m.]: With a very heavy heart I inform the House of the death of Lance Corporal Jason Marks in Afghanistan last week. Born on 9 July 1980, this son, brother, husband, father, mate, and soldier was a highly valued commando in the Holsworthy based 4th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. Yesterday I was honoured, but very saddened, to attend a memorial service for Jason at the Holsworthy base. It was fitting that the Prime Minister, Mr Rudd, and his wife, Therese, the Federal Leader of the Opposition, Dr Nelson, the Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon, and the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, all attended the service. They joined, in grief, with Defence Force chiefs and all of the 4 RAR members who are still on Australian soil.

Together we sat in silence, as the temperature dropped and the sun set to a crisp clear night, and waited for the service to begin. Our hearts collectively sank as three of the four soldiers who were wounded in the incident emerged from an ambulance to join in the service. Our hearts then broke as Jason's wife, Cassandra Marks, arrived pushing a pram holding five-month-old Ella Marks and surrounded by other family members, one of whom was carrying five-year-old Conner Marks. Cassandra stepped forward to lay a wreath at the 4th Battalion's memorial rock, which now bears the additional inscription, "LCPL J. P. Marks". As the service progressed I thought that it would be hard to imagine a more touching tribute to a fallen comrade than the one we were privileged to share.

Jason, while providing cover fire to protect his mates, was killed instantly by Taliban forces. The glowing tributes from his family and friends spoke volumes about a caring, competent and very courageous man. Jason realised a boyhood dream by joining the Army in 1999 and served first as a medico, then trained as a commando and joined the esteemed 4 RAR. Photographs of every facet of Jason's life were continually displayed behind those who spoke during the service. I also point out that some of the stories shared by his teammates were occasionally peppered with what one could describe as trademark Aussie humour. Despite the moments of humour, however, we remained painfully aware of our nation's great loss.

During the service the wife of a serving member read a prayer for deployed members and their families. Members may be aware that Jason was the fourth Australian soldier and the second commando to be killed while serving in Afghanistan in the past six months. As members may recall, news of Jason's death came through to the general public on the morning of Monday 28 April. During that morning a woman came into my electorate office asking for my services as a Justice of the Peace. She had a 10 week-old baby in her arms. While I was witnessing for her the documents relating to the baby's baptism, she asked me precisely what had happened in Afghanistan, as she had only half heard a news report. As I told her the details of Jason's death and the injuries to the other soldiers, her facial expression changed and she held her baby even tighter. She then told me that her husband had been due to leave in the same contingent to Afghanistan, but had suffered a small injury before the plane flew out. I did not need her to tell me what was in her mind.

While I appreciate that the Prime Minister's warning to steel ourselves for more casualties may have caused an intake of breath in some communities, I can only say that Jason's loss was another tragic realisation of our community's worst fears. Families live with this fear every day that their loved ones are deployed overseas. On behalf of the entire community I express our sincere condolences to Cassandra Marks, her young children, her extended family and friends. Jason Marks' sacrifice will never be forgotten; nor should it be. He joins the other names on the list on the memorial rock. Sadly, he also joins the names that we remembered recently on Anzac Day. The grief we share is not just for the past; it is for the present and, sadly, it may be for the future. On behalf of the House I say vale Jason Marks.

Mr STEVE WHAN (Monaro—Parliamentary Secretary) [1.49 p.m.]: I thank the member for Menai for bringing this matter to the attention of the House and indicate that the Government, and I am sure every member of this House, pass on their condolences to Lance Corporal Jason Marks' family, especially Cassandra and their children. Also, our thoughts are with all those who are serving overseas—in Afghanistan and other theatres of war—and with the families waiting at home for their loved ones to come home safely.